Kitchen

[granddi]

Would some experienced cooks share how to use milk alternatives in basic and advanced cooking. 

What type is best? Almond or other?

I'm not a baker but the question comes up in things like pancake mix or cornbread mix. Complete -just add water- mixes contain milk! 

I am new to the lactose intolerance club! I'm a southern girl and miss my cream gravy. 

[Carmie]

I am not lactose intolerant, but I can't have gluten.  I haven't have been gluten free for 40 years.

Sometimes when you have digestive issues with certain types of food, you just can't eat some things. It's an adjustment.

Unless you can find just use water mixes made without milk, you will have to cook everything from scratch.

Since you can buy lactose free milk in the dairy section in your local grocery store, you could start there.  I understand the lactose free milk tastes and works the same as whole milk and it is real milk.

If you want to use a nut milk...choose almond milk without sweetners or vanilla.

[evelyner]

• almond milk even the one with no flavor had a taste. It's ok in sweet stuff only. You can use oat milk which has no taste. 

[wagirl]

@granddi --DD and I drink almond milk--but I have found that oatmilk is fantastic as a subs for cows milk or any other faux milk in cooking and baking !! It does contain more sugar----I use the unsweetened kind but it still does have sugar because it is made from oats. For what ever reason it just works. Have used it in making white sauces, in mashed spuds--so good--- in puddings, desserts, would do great in mixes --muffins, cornbread, pancakes, I used it in my polenta too.  There are even a plant based heavy cream subs that are very good too. One is by Country Crock and another is by Califia Farms. Have used them both. Just made a pesto/cream sauce using it, for  over a chicken, broccoli, pasta meal. Makes a pretty good alfredo sauce too.

[aroc3435]

@granddi   Carnation Lactose Free Evaporated Milk is my solution.  Substitute 1:1 in recipes calling for milk.  Coomes in 11 ounce shelf stable packaging and doesn't have to be refrigerated until opened.

Also, aside from cooking, eating foods that have dairy has become much happier for me since they invented Lactiad brand pills.  

I use the plain--no flavor--Fast Act tablets.  The flavored ones have sugar substitute in them and therefore create the same problem for my gasto-intestinal tract as the one I'm trying to avoid!

Hope this helps.

Best,

aroc3435

Washington, DC

[Imaoldhippie]

@granddi .............Lactose free milk works.

[RetiredATC]

I have a Lactose problem even using Lactaid tablets and Lactaid milk.  I use 3 tablets for one container of yogurt, and I still have issues.  That being said, I use almond milk with coconut.  I really do like that in cereals and to drink.  Just be aware that if you want to make instant pudding, and probably the cooked boxed kind, the pudding will not solidify using the substitutes.  It needs the actual milk.

[rockygems123]

@granddi 

How about Lactaid?

Yes, Lactaid is a brand of lactose-free milk made from real cow's milk: 

• Ingredients

  Lactaid milk is made by adding a small amount of lactase to regular milk, an enzyme that breaks down lactose into glucose and galactose. 
• Taste

  Lactaid milk tastes sweeter than regular milk because glucose and galactose are sweeter than lactose. 
• Nutrition

  Lactaid milk is a good source of protein, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin B12, riboflavin, and vitamin D. 

• Uses

  Lactaid milk can be used as a substitute for regular milk in cooking and drinking. 

[granddi]

Thanks to everyone!

I'm a beginner at lactose intolerance. 

This all started about 2 years ago. My eating and pooping was normal! I got food poisoning. When it did not get better in 2-3 weeks, my NP said "oh just a bland diet and lots of water" 

My gut was never in balance after the infection. I'll keep my medical journey brief. History of food poisoning can be related to onset of IBS-D, SIBO, others. If you are an older person who encounters food poisoning ask for aggressive antibiotics. One in particular is very expensive. 

I have been one month off lactose and caffeine. I'm better. Waiting for many other labs. I even had a small reaction to Lactaid milk? So the investigation continues. Gut issues are multifactoral so finding a patient, good listening, GI doc is imperative.  My 3rd one might be the charm. 

I use Almond milk for smoothies bc of the calcium. I definitely will try the oat milk. 

Yall are the best thanks!

[Pook]

@granddi I use Almond Breeze Extra Creamy.  That is the only Almond milk that works way better than milk and even tastier than milk- even for pudding.